Class of 2020: Voices of the future
Introducing Quebec's high school valedictorians
COVID-19 may have cancelled graduation ceremonies, but it hasn't cancelled graduation.
As Secondary 5 students across Quebec prepare to move on to their next chapter, they're doing it without the usual pomp and circumstance to mark the hard work they put in over the years. No dinners or dances, no goodbye parties, no valedictorian speeches in caps and gowns before big crowds.
CBC Quebec wanted to make sure that, despite the pandemic, school valedictorians got their moment to share their messages of hope and wisdom with the world.
Taking sections from each of their valedictorian speeches, we created one unified message from a graduating class that has overcome challenges most of us never envisioned living through.
The result showcases the poignant, bittersweet words of reflection and hope from 18 inspiring, resilient young Quebecers.
To the class of 2020, congratulations from CBC Quebec!
The graduates are: Joshua Hazan Mea (Herzliah High School), Elizabeth Osborne O'Donnell (Massey Vanier High School), Brendan Robinson (Richmond Regional High School), Isabella Pucciarelli (Royal Vale High School), Amariah Scotland Carey (Beurling Academy), Sarah McCracken (Kuper Acedemy), Justin Bernadet (St. Patrick's High School), Catherine Foisy (Three Rivers Academy), Alexandra Bocking (St. Michael's High School), Gina Di Blasio (Pierrefonds Community High School), Isaac Cape (Selwyn House School), Jacqueline Buche (John Rennie High School), Nathanel Harell (Herzliah High School), Brian Sproule (Chateauguay Valley Regional High School), Seol Han (Royal Vale High School), Karine Meghdessian (École arménienne Sourp Hagop), Allison Engo (Royal West Academy) and Sarah-Michele Auger (Alexander Galt Regional High School).
